Volumetric ultrasonic imaging with diverging elevational ultrasound beams

摘要

An ultrasonic transducer is provided for producing two- dimensional projection images of the interior of the body. The transducer may comprise an array of elements, acuated to produce scanning beams which are focused in the azimuthal direction and divergent in the elevation direction. The elements will, when actuated, emit fan-shaped beams which will insonify a volumetric region in front of the transducer. Echoes returning from structures within the volumetric region are acoustically integrated and projected onto a plane within the region. An image display of this plane will represent a two-dimensional projection of the volumetric region.